2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumBush 43 is notably absent from GOP presidential race
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/nation_world/145260385.htmlHOUSTON - George W. Bush is as hard to find in his father's office as he is in the 2012 presidential contest.
The 43d president appears in a gold-framed picture tucked into a far corner of the room, partially hidden by a Texas flag and a cabinet door. The placement, whether intentional or not, is a reminder of the Republican presidential campaign and the lengths to which Romney and his rivals have tried to marginalize the two-term president.
The younger Bush was an afterthought Thursday as his father, former President George H.W. Bush, met with current GOP front-runner Mitt Romney - until a reporter raised the issue.
"I haven't met with President George W. Bush. We speak from time to time," Romney replied when asked if he had sought the younger Bush's endorsement.
yankeepants
(1,979 posts)steve2470
(37,457 posts)DFW
(54,384 posts)Like every fifteen years or so?
Bill Clinton's speeches at Democratic conventions are highlights of every gathering.
I can't say if W's speeches have any effect or not. To my knowledge, he hasn't given any.
That darned need to be able to read still seems to get in the way...............
Drunken Irishman
(34,857 posts)Bush, Clinton, Bush, Obama - notice something? The only two living Republican presidents have been duds.
Obama and Clinton will be, IMO, well received for generations to come.
jmowreader
(50,557 posts)The last five Republican presidents have been duds. It's just that they can't dig up Reagan to rally the base, though heaven only knows they've been trying.
Drunken Irishman
(34,857 posts)Reagan was a dud, but not in most American eyes. He's considered a great and would be a huge asset, unfortunately, for the Republicans today if he were alive.
dimbear
(6,271 posts)may not be bright, but they're not flat out stupid. They can remember 4 years back. Some.
Drunken Irishman
(34,857 posts)There's a reason Obama continually leads Romney, even though his approval numbers aren't so hot.
Why? Because they know what the alternative is and they don't like it.
chelsea0011
(10,115 posts)the safest of places.
Ken Burch
(50,254 posts)(Mind you, it's hard enough to do that when I'm NOT him, or even a member of his party).
GreydeeThos
(958 posts)TahitiNut
(71,611 posts)It's inevitable. He's undoubtedly on psychotropic meds ... big time.
sofa king
(10,857 posts)He is also an enormous security risk if he goes off the chain, so he'll be closely observed and his public exposure will have to be sharply limited, lest his self-esteem sink so deep he returns to risky (and now exploitable) behavior.
He will never again receive the adulation and sycophancy he demanded, and his sorry record will be constantly compared against the Democratic Presidents who easily navigated courses of peace and prosperity around his dark rocks of war and depression. Every month some new and damning revelation will reveal a tiny bit more of exactly how criminal and how incompetent his true legacy really was.
He'll wish he were dead. And there will always be someone within fifteen feet making sure he can't die. That, at least, is some repayment for what he has done.
Walk away
(9,494 posts)and let him nominate Mitt! "Mission Accomplished!"
CanonRay
(14,101 posts)I mean, the Rethugs blame him for the budget defitict (properly so) and we just generally think he's an idiot...who is he going to endorse?
jmowreader
(50,557 posts)Which will solve the problem of Newt running for president for the rest of his life.
Bonduel
(96 posts)you wouldn't have him out in front of a Presidential election. It wouldn't be a smart move. I could see him being st the RNC in 12-14 years but not now.
Gman
(24,780 posts)And always will be, he left office with like a 23% approval along with the other war criminal Cheney at 12%. Neither can travel far without worrying about being arrested.
pinto
(106,886 posts)With a huge mean streak. i.e. a modern day Republican.
Myrina
(12,296 posts)n/t
MineralMan
(146,309 posts)"The Forgotten President." We should be taking advantage of that at every opportunity, by bringing him up frequently in campaigns.
livetohike
(22,144 posts)It will remind the nation of his eight years of failure. The GOP has a problem on their hands .
HopeHoops
(47,675 posts)Major Hogwash
(17,656 posts)He's probably down in Texas somewhere trying to find his ass with both hands.
That'll keep him busy all damned day!
Proud Liberal Dem
(24,412 posts)while Obama is trying to clean up what he left behind in DC- though his minions are either making more messes or throwing obstacles up to get in the way of trying to clean up the original mess.
The less we hear from him the better IMHO. He would have a LOT of nerve showing his face (too much) in public after the mess he made of, well, everything. The fact that Cheney keeps popping up to criticize Obama's foreign/security policies is almost enough to make one's head explode, not to mention the fact that, despite 9/11 happening under their watch, they are treated as "experts" on the subject.
yortsed snacilbuper
(7,939 posts)so it is probably in his best interest to stay under cover!
Odin2005
(53,521 posts)L. Coyote
(51,129 posts)and that toxicity will only get worse with history. Bush will forever stand tall in the Hall of Infamy as the first man to bring down the global economy,
towering over Herbert Hoover, a not easy task
apnu
(8,756 posts)That, right there is all the 43 I could take for the year.
Myrina
(12,296 posts)Admittedly, I've only caught snips of their 'appearances' here and there & it seems like Snot Walker is noticeably absent. Usually the highest ranking GOP tool is all up in the business of who-ever is appearing.
Are they distancing themselves from him because they know 80% of WI hates him?